Brushing up for elk shooting the 45/70

[bucksmasher]

I had to take the old girl out and see for my self that it still shot where I aimed it. It did. I haven't used it for two year and thought I should make sure the shells did not go bad. I ran out to were I shot a lot, the wind was around 12-15 mph heavy clouds and some drizzle. This is not a range so I had to pack my bench and some targets out in to the weeds. Stepped off 100 yards and checked it with the range finder and was wrong as normal. I walked out a bit farther to the real 100 yard mark and put up a target,it took some doing to get it to stay up and kind of steady but it would work. Then out to 200 yards, I never get this one wright so I used the "finder" did some more Mcgivering and I had a target up there too. Then out some more, with the rain the finder would not lock on to my bench so I had to shoot it at the other targets,I took two readings to get it right at 300 yards.Crap thats a long way to walk. Got the target to stand and made it straight to my bench and walked back. lugged out a 100 shells shooting bag bino's,tape and my little camera. I thought I'd try it off my shooting sticks for the easy one ( 100 yard) Bam.bam,bam, that looked good back from were I was so I went to look . OK> that will do, about an inch to the left and about an inch high and a two in one shot.

100 yards is a peace of cake so I tried 200 but off the bench . I did put it up to 8X the old eyes just don't do like they used to.I have a 200 yard mark and a 300 yard mark in the scope but it is for "evolution" shells and mine run hotter but it is close with the 200 hash. I mover over 6" for wind and shot it. Not to bad about 3" high on the 200 mark.

Now 300 yards,man thats still a LONG way out there,my targets are just computer paper size. I tried three shots with the 300 mark and it looked like it was over the target but there is such a recoil it's tuff to tell. Out I go , Bid I say that 300 yards is a LONG WAY out there. All the way out and a good look,nothing not a hole in the target or backer,humm. Just as I thought to high. BACK to the bench. I pushed in three more and thought I'd use the 200 mark and aim 6" high ( top of the target and over to the edge of the paper for wind. NOW that looked better. I dumped them all out and want for a walk. Yup that did it about 3" low and a spread of like 6" that is still dead Elk.

I had the scope all the way up to 9x. To bad I cant pack the bench out with me hunting but that would be a bit more that I want to carry.
I did wing some shots at a clay bank out past 500 yards and it looked like I might hit an elk if I could range in on him with a few shot first.


well there you go

 

[cjg_beef]

Not wanting to play ethic's police or anything but I'd say that with your rifle and your shooting abilities you should limit your shots to under 300 yards. Your 300 yard spread was approximately 8 inches and you were just using "Kentucky" windage.

You said, 'I did wing some shots at a clay bank out past 500 yards and it looked like I might hit an elk if I could range in on him with a few shot first.'

I'm sorry but I wouldn't let you in my hunting party if you were talking like that. That's very irresponsible and the game we hunt deserve a quick clean kill.

You have to remember that you were shooting off a bench for one and you were just guessing on the windage... In the field your groups will always open up because your not going to be as steady or comfortable as on a bench. With practice though I think you could tighten up those 300 yard groups to make your combo an effective 300 yard elk gun.


Workman Predator Calls Field Staff

 

[bucksmasher]

WOW you don't think thats a bit harsh ??
HUMM I'm guessing you and your 300 mag would not have to Kentucky windage wind drift at 300 yards?? That Is Very good. I have been shooting for a LONG time and this gun and combo is a very good set up for elk. I don't think I can argue the fact I was winging lead but it would be very interesting to watch ANY one shoot, out in the field in the wind and hit a 1 foot rock at and unknown distance with any gun...
Any way you rock I think I'd never make it on your hunting "Party"
But thanks for your input.

well there you go

 

[cjg_beef]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-10 AT 07:33AM (MST)[p]Workman Predator Calls Field Staff

 

[springbear]

Looks like some fine shooting to me bucksmasher. I wouldn't worry too much about who's elk camp you can be in....
Long as you can stand yourself, you always gonna have a place to hunt.

I guess it is now unethical to "wing" lead at paper plates and post it dots...

I wonder if that dude feels sorry for all the "chiped" birds that have to limp off and suffer a horible death the gun clubs all acrosss america?

I say if you don't try it on the practice range, how the hell are you supposed to "know" you can do it or not when that bull steps out at 300 yards in a stiff cross wind. I say good shooting, good prictice, and good form bucksmasher.

 

[springbear]

sorry bucksamsher, looking back at the pictures, i see you were winging lead at Computer Paper with lines and Not paper Plates. Just wanted to clear that up on my part. I am sure the ole CJ beef "with anybody who wounds paper" will come along and uninvite my a$$ from his hunting party and likely his state if I don't know the difference between paper plates with dots and computer paper with lines and dots. I mean I could accidently kill the wrong one; and that would then be poaching a peice of paper that deservs so much more respect than that....

Ok I am finished.

 

[cjg_beef]

I never said that your gun wasn't a good setup for elk. I think it's a great round for elk but it was just your comment about taking pot shots at elk at 500 yards and adjusting until you hit the animal bothered me. It just seemed a little reckless in my mind. The old Sharps .45-70s have been used in long range competitions for years so it's possible to shoot 'long range'. Your 300 yard group probably would be tighter if there was zero wind which shows by the small vertical dispersion. But it's your responsibility for a quick clean kill. If you feel that your groups are good enough to kill an elk at 500+ yards then I guess it doesn't matter what I say. To each his own...

I'm not a huge fan of Kentucky windage. It's just guessing and that's all it is. It's not too hard to create ballistics data for your loads and rifles. All you need to know is the velocity and a few other specs about your load and rifle and you can get load data out to as far as you can see. I'd recommend getting a good scope that is 'repeatable' and use clicks instead of hold overs and 'kentucky windage'.

Workman Predator Calls Field Staff

 

[Zeke]

With the advent of TV shows which depict extreme range shooting it's easy to see why we consider 500 yards as a easy do-able shot for elk. Actually it is under the RIGHT conditions and with the right gun, cartridge, scope combo AND A HIGH SKILL LEVEL THROUGH PRACTICE! These guns are just a tool, not a cure-all.
The variable here is the darn wind! We all know there is a certain amount of "guess work" on even a 300 yard shot when it comes to the wind. We all have the drift charts, we all have the BC, velocity, mid-range. yaw etc. BUT that darn wind is ever changing and with MOST long shots there is EDUCATED guessing involved!

I'm not trying to debate about what the poster was trying to say. Actually sounds to me like he has a good working knowledge of his gear and very good skill level. He's also out there shooting while the reat of us are on the computer! Me included!

We all need to decide for ourselves how far is too far. I will be the last to tell someone what's right for them.
When in doubt, I try to get closer. At least within a mile or so. LOL
Zeke

 

[PleaseDear]

I thought about buying a 45/70 for my Wyo Buff hunt this fall.

Yours is shooting that good way out there for me and I would feel great at a hundred yards or less.......Bowhunter by desire---but I have laways wanted one of them 45/70's......

I would want just the iron sights.

If I buy one can I reachout to ya for some advice?

Thanks

Robb

 

[txhunter58]

"I did wing some shots at a clay bank out past 500 yards and it looked like I might hit an elk if I could range in on him with a few shot first."

CJG: When you find an elk that will let you "range in on him with a few shots first" please let me know. Otherwise I am going to assume that comment was tongue in cheek

Good shooting.



txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[utelkhntr]

Now kill yourself an elk!!